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Sex crime in Scotland has surged to its highest level in 45 years, according to “extremely alarming” official statistics published yesterday that prompted demands for SNP ministers to toughen up the justice system.

The Scottish Government’s annual report on recorded crime showed 10,273 sex offences were committed in 2015/16, seven per cent more than the previous year and a 53 per cent rise from 2006/07.

This is the highest total since 1971, with the total increasing every year since 2008/09, the year after the SNP came to power. In nearly half of cases, 43 per cent, the victim was a child under the age of 18.

The number of attempted rapes increased by 13 per cent last year to a record high. Although the total for rape and attempted rapes fell slightly, it has increased by 60 per cent over the past five years.

Sexual assaults increased by six per cent over the past year and 36 per cent over four years, with one of the main reasons a 56 per cent rise involving “penetration” of a female in 2015/16. The total number of sex assaults in the Highlands also rocketed by an astonishing 56 per cent in a single year.

The number of “other” sex crimes increased 20 per cent from 3,555 to 4,254 in a single year. This category included those with victims aged between 13 and 15, indecent photographs of children, incest and indecent exposure.

Non-sexual violent crime also increased, by seven per cent, with the number of attempted murders and serious assaults surging by 27 per cent.

SNP ministers yesterday hailed figures showing overall crime is down four per cent to the lowest level since 1974. They blamed historic cases for the marked rise in sex offences.

But the Conservatives accused them of “crowing” about the total but said this would be “no comfort” to the increasing number of sex attack victims.

The statistics were published the week after it emerged that some rapists and child-sex offenders have been punished with the SNP’s community payback order (CPO) scheme rather than prison.

Douglas Ross, the Scottish Tories’ Shadow Justice Minister, said: “Reporting of historic crime may make up part of this, but it’s clear there is an extremely alarming trend here.

“These are among the most traumatic crimes that can take place, and we owe it to the public to ensure the levels of these crimes reduce rather than increase.” He argued that using CPOs to punish serious sex crimes “sends out the wrong message and has to change as a matter of urgency.”

Claire Baker, his Labour counterpart also argued that the 45 per cent rise in sex crimes could not be entirely attributed to more victims coming forward or historic cases. She said: “We need to accept that Scotland has an issue that needs to be seriously addressed.”

The figures also showed cases of fire-raising and vandalism went up by four per cent, while instances of stalking rose 15 per cent from 1,251 to 1,435. Meanwhile, illegal importation of drugs soared by a remarkable 148 per cent.

However, crimes of dishonesty fell by nine per cent and the number of instances of handling offensive weapons fell to its lowest level since 1984.

Michael Matheson, the Justice Minister, said the increase in sex crimes was “unacceptable” but said the Scottish Government had taken “tough action” to ensure the culprits are brought to justice.